An Array of Characters

The novel unfolds like a grand tapestry, woven with an endless roster of characters who stride in from the pages of history and leap from the imagination. Real and imagined personas mingle effortlessly, with none other than Gore Vidal stepping into the narrative at an extravagant gathering thrown by the iconic Peggy Guggenheim. Historical figures are resurrected through the prism of Vidal's encounters with the Washington elite, courtesy of his grandfather, Senator Thomas P. Gore. At the heart of this intricately crafted tale are Caroline and Peter, fictions crafted to brush shoulders with the legends of the past. Vidal deftly blurs the line between reality and fantasy, spinning the vibrant tales we yearn for but rarely find in history books.

The World Through Caroline's Eyes

Caroline, a once luminous movie star turned publisher, becomes Vidal's lens into the dual worlds of Hollywood glamour and Washington intrigue. She glides seamlessly between the opulent halls of the White House and the plush corridors of the Beverly Hills Hotel, her past intimately linked to both realms. Now, by choice, an observer on the periphery, her perspective on the oscillations of power is both unique and enlightening. In a country she reluctantly calls home due to the war, Caroline crafts her identity as an outsider peering into the inner sanctum of power brokers. Her navigation through the turbulent currents of Washington's power games is astute, her maturity guiding her. Unruffled by the chaos, she maintains a stoic exterior, her presence a calculated move for her amusement alone. Witty and sharp, she silently critiques the melodrama surrounding her, unfazed by the compromising nature of political life. Life’s trials, even death and despair, are taken in stride, her inner resilience rarely yielding. Caroline embodies sanity in a world often devoid of it, a voice of reason frequently overlooked in the political machinations around her.

Her honesty is unwavering, especially in familial bonds. In contrast to her disdain for her daughter, Emma, who marries Timothy Farrell, Caroline's former lover, she finds solace in her nephew, Peter. Their relationship encapsulates the strained parent-child dynamics pervasive throughout the novel; Blaise, preferring his son-in-law’s company over his offspring, Enid entrusting her child to a nurse, and Caroline at ease with Peter.

Peter's Path

A kindred spirit to Caroline, Peter navigates the corridors of power, a privilege bestowed by his lineage, being the offspring of Blaise Sanford, a titan in the publishing sphere. Yet, Peter's soul yearns for something beyond the allure of Capitol Hill's greed. His post-war endeavor, a left-leaning newspaper, lands him on the FBI's radar, branding him a figure of suspicion. It is within the pages of The American Ideal that Peter finds his true calling, steadfastly rejecting his father's incessant offers to helm the Tribune. His independence is matched only by his keen observation of the world around him.

As the story progresses, Peter becomes enamored with the pursuit of an elusive "American Ideal," a quest that pulls him to New York. Here, he encounters the likes of Ferdinand Leger, Tennessee Williams, and Leonard Bernstein, visionaries eager to reshape American culture post-war. Immersed among these youthful creatives, Peter finds himself aligned with their quest for a new voice, a narrative echoed by Vidal himself. Through the duality of his youthful persona and his seasoned reflection as an author, Vidal instills a sense of hope and continuity for the future.